October 16, 2025

by Arnoud Den Hoedt, Country Manager NL

Retrofitting is not a makeshift solution. It’s the rational choice.

The pressure on the logistics sector in the Netherlands and Belgium is continuing to grow. Higher wage costs, rising energy rates and structural problems with permits and grid capacity often put expansion or new constructions economically and practically out of reach. At the same time, expectations concerning speed, scalability and sustainability continue to rise.

Automation is still necessary here, but the classic approach – replacing everything and building a completely new solution – is increasingly hitting its limits. Retrofitting is often thought of as a plan B, but that isn’t the right way to look at it. Retrofitting is not an emergency solution. It is actually the logical and rational choice in this market, where there is less space for rigid systems and vendor lock-in.

Complexity rarely lies in the technology

Most of the warehouses or production lines we encounter have grown in stages. There are systems of different ages, from multiple suppliers, sometimes with outdated PLCs or inadequate documentation. It is rarely the technology itself that is the problem, but the way in which it has been integrated over the years.

The reflex to start again from scratch often leads to long lead times, high investments and a repetition of the same problem: you buy yet another closed system that once again proves difficult to adapt.

A well-executed retrofit, however, allows you to modernise the existing infrastructure selectively. This can range from replacing an outdated PLC to adding autonomous transport systems in a single zone of the warehouse. You can target the areas that generate the greatest added value, without shutting down or rebuilding the entire installation.

Vendor lock-in: an operational risk

Many companies are tied to a single supplier for updates, modifications or expansions. Not only does this cause frustration, it also poses a genuine business risk. Simple parts can take months to be delivered, while systems can grind to a halt due to a lack of support.

A vendor-independent retrofit solves these issues nicely. The use of open standards and modular components allows companies to adapt their systems without necessarily engaging the original supplier. This does require in-depth technical knowledge and experience with systems integration, however, as the complexity shifts from the hardware to the engineering.

A local presence is not a luxury option

A retrofit solution requires a different way of working than classic turnkey projects. There are few standard solutions and many unexpected situations. Diagrams may no longer be correct, software might not have been updated, safety systems could have been modified in the meantime, and so on.

So it’s crucial to have the right people close at hand. You need people who are present on the shop floor, can quickly assess the risks and take responsibility for the solution instead of passing the buck.

Retrofitting as the new standard

If you want to automate smartly today, start with what you already have. Retrofitting is not a temporary solution until something new comes along “one day”. It is a scalable, pragmatic strategy that allows companies to keep pace with their context, without getting stuck in closed systems once again. Retrofitting is not an all-or-nothing route. It allows you to improve the areas that matter most, while the rest just keeps running as normal.

In a sector where survival is determined by flexibility, retrofitting is not a plan B. It’s the standard.